ME 321 - MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE BODIES

ASSIGNMENT 2 - DUE SEP 5, 2019

Practice Problems: From Prescribed Text - 2.5, 2.6, 2.15, 2.27, 2.31, 2.32, 2.33.

Problems - (To be turned in):

(1) The state of stress in an infinitesimal cube is given (in MPa) by:
√ √
σxx = 3, σyy = 0, σzz = −1, σxy = − 2, σyz = − 2, σzx = 1

Determine the principal stresses and their direction. [10 pts]

(2) Check if the given stress field is a possible stress field description. [5 pts]

σxx = ayz, σyy = bxz, σzz = cxy, σxy = dz 2 , σyz = f x2 , σzx = ey 2

(3) The stress tensor at a point is given by: [10 pts]

σxx = σ, σyy = σ, σzz = σ, σxy = aσ, σyz = cσ, σzx = bσ

where a, b, c are constants and σ is some stress value. Determine the constants a, b, c so that the
stress vector vanishes on the octahedral plane.

(4) The stresses acting at a point in a piece of material are: [10 pts]

σxx = 4, σyy = 7, σzz = −9, σxy = 4, σyz = 5, σzx = 0

Calculate:
(a) The normal stress, resultant stress and the shear stress on a plane whose normal makes angles
of 50◦ with the positive x-axis and 60◦ with the positive y-axis.
(b) The direction cosines of the shear stress with respect to the x, y and z-axes.
(c) The principal stresses and the direction cosines of the normals to the principal planes with
respect to x, y and z.
(d) The maximum shear stress at the point in the material.

(5) The planar stress description associated with a wedge is given

by: σxx = −90, σyy = −150, σxy = −75. Find the traction
vector, normal and shear stresses on the inclined plane of the
wedge shown in the Figure. [10 pt]

Note: Do not use any ”shortcuts” and show all the steps of your work.